U.S. Border and Transportation Security employees facilitate legitimate travel and trade while working to prevent terrorism and other illegal activities.

Border patrol agents are stationed along the physical borders of the United States. Most jobs are in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas - the four states that border Mexico. The remaining border agents work across the northern boundary with Canada.

Career opportunities for new border patrol agents are projected to remain good in the years ahead. To become a border patrol agent, individuals must:

be a U.S. citizen,

possess a valid driver's license,

be under 37 years of age,

have a bachelor's degree and 1-year of qualifying experience, and

be able to pass a medical and fitness exam, a drug test, and a background investigation.

Border patrol agents are federal employees under the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In addition to border patrol responsibilities, CBP also provides customs and immigration inspection, import and export control, and animal and plant health inspection services. These services are provided at 317 official ports-of-entry in the United States plus 14 pre-clearance offices in Canada and the Caribbean as well as on the northern and southern U.S. borders.

Altogether, the CBP has more than 41,000 employees in occupations that include customs and border protection officers; security clerks, assistants, and administrators; and inspection, investigation and compliance officers as well as automotive and heavy mobile equipment mechanics; biologists and chemists; and attorneys and paralegal specialists.

Transportation security officers are on-site at all of the nation's major airports to screen airline passengers and luggage prior to boarding for dangerous objects and other terrorism threats. They may also help inspect air, rail, and other forms of transportation cargo for dangerous or illegal substances.

With over 400 major U.S. airports requiring transportation security officer screening services, job and career opportunities for such new officers are expected to remain very good during the years ahead.

TSA has over 10,000 employees. Most are directly engaged in providing transportation security screening and air marshal protective services. However, TSA also employs other managerial, financial, information technology, and administrative professionals.

Finally, the efforts of the CBP and TSA are supported by numerous state, regional and local authorities - such as the presence of state police at airports - that help provide additional security and resources to counter terrorist and illegal activities.

Explorer Program - for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 21. Explorers engage in activities that build character, good citizenship, and fitness plus opportunities to participate in law enforcement and criminal justice related activities.